Of Vines and Victims

A Travelling Celebrant Mystery #4

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

When a wine-country wedding becomes a murder investigation, can Daphne clear an innocent woman’s name before the killer strikes again?

Wedding celebrant Daphne Jones arrives at Crystal Springs Winery expecting a simple ceremony. Instead, she gets a shock: the bride is Belle, the beloved foster daughter she lost touch with a decade ago. Their reunion is cut short, however, when Daphne finds a notorious food critic stabbed to death, and his dying words implicate the winery’s head chef, Susan. But the scene is too perfect. Is Susan being framed?

As Daphne digs deeper, a sinister pattern emerges: anonymous threats, suspicious accidents, a hit-and-run that nearly killed the groom’s father. Someone wants Crystal Springs destroyed, and murder is just the beginning.

With Belle’s wedding days away, Daphne races to expose the truth. But the killer is watching, and getting too close to the answers might make her the next victim…

A cozy, character-driven mystery which will delight fans of Lauren Elliott, M.C. Beaton and Ellie Alexander.

236 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2026

About the author

Phillipa lives just outside a beautiful town in country Victoria, Australia. She also lives in the many worlds of her imagination and stockpiles stories beside her laptop.

She writes from the heart about love, dreams, secrets, discovery, the sea, the world as she knows it… or wishes it could be. She loves happy endings, heart-pounding suspense, and characters who stay with you long after the final page.

With a passion for music, the ocean, nature, reading, and writing, she is often found in the vegetable garden pondering a new story.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in a now renamed series. I had already read the previous books.

Of Vines and Victims takes us to Crystal Springs Winery where Daphne has been invited to perform the wedding ceremony. She and husband John have a huge shock when they discover that the bride to be is Belle who they fostered many years previously and then lost touch with. All of this is subsumed by a murder, a possibly corrupt police officer and the wrong person being arrested. Daph has to use all her skills to expose the culprit before the wedding.

Another twisty turny mystery in this delightful cosy series. I really enjoyed the role John played in this one. Beware anyone who tries to hurt his Daphne! Since the publisher has released the whole series again at once I wonder if this is to be the final book. I very much hope not.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite sleuth is back in another story that was intriguing and had me guessing till the very end, Daph is looking forward to another wedding but she is also feeling a little melancholy at this stage, she is missing her home town of Rivers End, she loves travelling with John the love of her life in their caravan Bluebell but is also happy that after this wedding they will be returning home for a winter break.

When they arrive at Crystal Springs Winery for the wedding of Belle and Arvin they are thrilled to find out that the bride is Belle the foster daughter they had planned to adopt ten years ago and had lost touch with after she went to life with her father, tears of joy fall freely and Daph and John are delighted to meet Belle’s fiancé Arvin and his lovely family.

But things change quickly when at a dinner with the bridal party and family at the winery’s restaurant The Pinnacle a food critic and his friends cause problems and after storming out that critic is found dead and by none other than Daph and then starts an investigation that opens up a lot of that has been happening, anonymous threats and accidents that have caused serious injury will Daph and John get to bottom of all that is happening and stay safe and will the wedding go ahead?

I loved the new story in this awesome series I have loved all the other stories and this one was moving with the reunion with Belle and the intrigue that Daph uncovers throughout the investigation there are some not so nice characters in this one, including a police officer but there are also some fabulous lovely characters and the setting is beautiful as is the winery and the descriptions of the area, the small town of Benalla, a truly fabulous story, one that I would highly recommend and I am really hoping that there will be more stories in this series.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Booksprout for my digital copy to read and review

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of Vines and Victims is another thoroughly enjoyable instalment in Phillipa Nefri Clark’s Travelling Celebrant Mystery series, and it was such a pleasure to return to Daphne Jones once again.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of a winery wedding, this cosy mystery delivers a well-paced and cleverly constructed plot, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the emotional layer added through Daphne’s reconnection with Belle — it gave the story extra depth and raised the stakes nicely as the mystery unfolded. The investigation feels satisfying and thoughtfully handled, with red herrings, tension, and a strong sense of place throughout.

One of the highlights for me was how neatly the ongoing threads from earlier books are woven in. While each novel can be read as a standalone, reading the series in order really enhances the experience, allowing the characters and relationships to grow naturally from book to book.

A warm, character-driven cosy mystery that fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy. If you love amateur sleuths, small-town (or close-knit community) settings, and mysteries with heart, this series is well worth picking up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celebrant Daphne Jones and her husband John are heading to the Crystal Springs Winery, deep in beautiful, lush, countryside, so she can officiate at the wedding of the owners' son. The groom has been hiding a secret however, and when Daphne and John arrive they are stunned to discover they know the bride to be. Belle was the foster daughter they almost adopted before she was reunited with her father and who they then lost contact with. Belle also had no idea they were coming but the delightful and loving reunion is ruined when Daphne discovers the body of a restaurant critic on the estate. Unpopular with almost all of the wedding party, there are no shortage of suspects for the local police to interrogate and the celebrations look destined to be called off when one of Belle's closest friends is arrested and guests begin to cancel their invitations. Determined to save her foster daughter's special day Daphne begins her own investigation but, after discovering that many different, seemingly separate crimes which had taken place over a number of years could all be linked to the tragedy, she finds herself overwhelmed and uncertain of her abilities. Daphne has no intention of letting anyone down however, and with John's unwavering support is getting closer to solving yet another case, even though the killer is closer than anyone thought.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to Storm Publishing and Booksprout, but the opinions expressed are my own. Belle, the beloved foster daughter had been mentioned in previous books but now takes a staring role. The relationship between Belle, Daphne, and John is beautifully described and her life after she left to live with her father gave an interesting insight, from both sides, into the aftermath of a successful but ultimately painful fostering experience. The new characters include, as in previous books, a raft of different personalities, and once again the author depicts a seriously unpleasant person with almost gleeful delight. The case was solved with humour, danger, and a hint that this maybe the final outing for the Travelling Celebrant.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this series, Daphne Jones has been thinking about one of hers and her husband John's foster kids. While Daph and John have been travelling around Victoria, she’s been quietly hoping they might see her again.

Well, it works out this time, as Daph’s next job is at a winery where Annabelle “Belle” works as a sous chef. Belle is engaged to the owner’s son and he’s decided to surprise Daph and Belle by hiring Daph to officiate at his and Belle’s wedding.

Though both she and John are overwhelmed by happiness; this was their one foster that they were in the process of adopting when Belle’s father Russell showed up and took her back with him. Neither Jones heard from their beloved almost daughter till arriving at the winery, so it’s an emotional reunion.

Daph also notices that there are frictions during dinner at the winery’s restaurant, and after a food critic eating there posts a false and quite negative review about the food, this infuriates the chef, Susan. The critic takes off after a loud argument with her, but isn’t found after, with Daph and the others looking for him. Of course Daph finds him bleeding to death, and this starts off her next murder investigation.

Not only does Daphne learn about the dead man's connection to the family who own the winery, as well as his connection to the chef, but she also learns that there has been a concerted effort to discredit the winery through anonymous, threatening letters. Belle asks Daph to look into the matter once she learns of Daph's amateur sleuthing, and there are a lot of twists, including a suspicious police detective and an attempt to frame Susan. At the same time, Daph and John become good friends with the winery owners, unsurprisingly, and Daph still has to fulfil her celebrant duties.

The ending is satisfying, and warm, with a happy resolution for everyone, except for the baddies. As it should be.

Though this ends is a way that could be the end of Daph's series, I hope there will be more opportunities for Daph to pull out her trusty notebook and solve mysteries.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and to Booksprout for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Daphne & John arrived near the town of Benalla in Victoria, Australia, for the wedding Daph would officiate at Crystal Springs Winery, they had little thought of what was ahead of them, both good and bad. Meeting up with the groom, then discovering who the bride was, shocked them both to their core - but in a good way. Belle was Annabelle, the foster child Daph & John almost adopted a decade prior. They'd lost contact with her, and now, seeing her again made them all so happy. Having dinner that night at the winery's restaurant was wonderful; meeting Arvin's parents, Heather and Eddie, special. And the friends who made Belle & Arvin happy. But a group of four, not connected to the wedding, were creating problems and after words, they flounced out. But it was later, when Daph was looking for the food critic, that a body was discovered...

As Daph began her investigation - and being warned off by a bully cop - that much was discovered. And Daph, as well as John, were determined to find out what was going on, and had been going on, before Belle & Arvin's wedding in a few days time. But could she? Daph could feel herself being watched but thought she was imagining things.

Of Vines and Victims is another delightful episode in the adventures of Daphne & John, wedding celebrant extraordinaire! The inimitable Aussie author Phillipa Nefri Clark has outclassed herself once again, with this 4th episode in A Travelling Celebrant Mystery series, and I loved it. The first three in the series have had a make over, and this - because it's a new one - was the only one I hadn't read. Daph & John are a great couple, joined at the hip, whose lives come from Rivers End. I can't wait to read more in the series. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and BookSprout for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Travelling Celebrant mystery series, and each one has been more enjoyable than the last to read and hopefully there are more to come.

Daphne Jones and her husband John are off to winery where she will officiate at the wedding of Belle and Arvin. Reading the name Belle triggered Daphne to remember a foster child named Annabelle they had fostered and was going to adopt in the past. This saddens her because they have never heard from her since she was taken away from them and given to her birth father.

Imagine Daphne’s and John’s surprise when Belle is their Annabelle. I like this connection to them, and it gives a reason for wanting this wedding to take place because it is being sabotaged for some reason. When a food critic panned Arvin’s family’s restaurant, and is later found murdered, the chef is a suspect, and the restaurant begins to lose customers. Daphne races to investigate so that Arvin’s family restaurant and winery get out from the cloud of suspicion so that Belle’s and Arvin’s future is secure. There are plenty of suspects to choose from, and when Daphne’s life is in peril, it all comes to a head, and the guilty party is revealed.

I think readers will enjoy Daphne and John and the reconnection they have with Annabelle. Ms. Clark does an excellent job describing the vineyard and the characters. Since we do not have a town that revolves around a cast of characters, Daphne and John carry the stories and they are written as people we would want in our lives.

Thank you Storm Publishing for providing this ARC through Booksprout in exchange for an honest review.

[Charissa Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book courtesy of Booksprout for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Overview: Daphne and John Jones are back on the road, heading to a small winery called Crystal Springs. Oddly enough, Daphne has only dealt with the groom-to-be. What a surprise! The bride is the same Belle that the Jones family has lost tract of a long time ago. Too bad that someone has decided to kill a well-known food critic, only days from the wedding. What's worse, Susan, the head chef a The Pinnacle, was seen fighting with the man. Who would want to kill Godfrey? Does any of this have to do with the strange letters that the Kingsley family has received? And can Daphne lead a wedding that Belle will always remember? Let's find out.

Dislikes: Jeremy is a big fish in a little pond in this police precinct. He had to have known what was truly going on, yet he seemed to enjoy the power that he held, rather than seeking the truth.

Likes: Belle had a great heart. She wanted to work her way up to the top of her career. And she was willing to hear Daphne out, even when she thought the worse.

Heather and Eddie made a wonderful couple. They showed that commitment is something beautiful.

I loved how John was willing to be a sounding board for Daphne.

Conclusion: This was a bit of a slow burn. If you like cozy mysteries, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne and John are headed to Crystal Springs Winery for a wedding. She will be officiating Arvin and Belle's wedding. Once they arrive Daphne and John receive a huge surprise, they used to be close to the bride. As the celebrations begin, a cruel food blogger is killer near Pinnacle Restaurant which is part of the winery. Daphne is the one to find him and she hears his last words. Daphne's sleuthing peaks once the local Constable dismisses her allegations of murder.

I am always happy to follow Daphne and John wherever they go. I was so happy for them that they reconnected with their Annabelle after so many years. I think Daphne cried the most on this book. Even though Daphne was constantly dissuaded from the case, she was persistent and knew that all the clues would lead her to the killer. This was a very sweet and heartfelt book. I can't get enough of Daphne and her knight in shinning armor John who knows how to throw a decent punch.
Thank you Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Booksprout for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the series not of a single story as I enjoyed every instalment and wish to celebrate the whole collection.
Daphne Jones glides through these mysteries with the effortless charm of someone who understands people far better than they understand themselves. As a travelling celebrant she steps into new towns with a smile and leaves with secrets gently coaxed into the light. The idea of a celebrant turning investigator feels wonderfully original and lends the series a graceful freshness. Each book offers a new setting filled with quiet rivalries tender hopes and the occasional inconvenient corpse. The mysteries unfold with elegant clues soft humour and a kindness that never slips into sentimentality. Daphne’s warmth insight and quiet wit make her a companion one is genuinely pleased to follow. This series offers comfort intrigue and the pleasant certainty that intelligence and compassion still make a formidable pair.
I thank the author for the digital copy and all opinions are my own.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of Vines and Victims is book four in the A Travelling Celebrant Mystery series and the first I have read. It begins with Daphne, a celebrant, and her husband, John, arriving in the next town with their caravan, Bluebell, where Daphne is to marry a young couple. For those, like me, who haven't read previous books, it reveals she has been instrumental in solving a series of murders and is feeling the effects of this, longing to go home and rest. An unexpected reunion makes her forget her weariness, but soon she is involved in the investigation of another suspicious death that threatens the wedding of someone she loves. It reads as a standalone story, but I would like to read the previous books as Daphne is a lovely character with keen insight and observational skills. I enjoyed the dynamic between Daphne and John, the mystery with its many suspects, and the story's emotional element, which makes it a heartwarming read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Clark had me laughing and crying while reading this, the final installment (I think) of the Travelling Celebrant Mystery series. I sincerely hope there will be more to come, but if this is the ending, oh, what a sweet, endearing ending it is. Daphne and John are heading out to wine country, small towns, and hoping to avoid yet another murder, or even just mystery.
Well, one mystery is solved even as another is begun once they arrive at their destination. A few red herrings with an extremely well-told tale, Of Vines and Victims is a worthy read, particularly if you've read the previous adventures, this one is so much the sweeter. It is able to stand alone, but has more depth if you've read the earlier adventures.
Highly recommended!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Of Vines & Victims, Phillipa Nefri Clark whisks readers away to the lush Crystal Springs Winery for a high-stakes wedding. What begins as a joyful, long-awaited reunion between celebrant Daphne Jones and her foster daughter, Belle, quickly sours when a notorious food critic is found murdered. With the head chef framed for the crime and the winery under siege from anonymous threats, Daphne must race against the wedding clock to unmask the true culprit.

I loved seeing Daphne and John reconnect with Belle. As the mystery unfolds, Clark delivers her signature blend of clever twists and tension. Watching Daphne's observant nature at work as she navigates a complex list of suspects kept me guessing until the last pages.

If you are a fan of character-driven cozy mysteries with a beautiful Australian backdrop, this is a must-read.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for providing this book for review via Booksprout. All opinions are my own.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 (and final?) Brings a nice conclusion to Daphne and John's story.

Daphne had only had contact with the groom and had no idea who the bride was. They were in for the surprise of their lives when they get to the vineyard and find out that the bride is their former foster daughter.

This one has a lot of feels in it. I loved getting to see Daphne and John get such a happy, albeit murder included, reunion with their loved foster daughter.

This one had a lot of good family connections in it. Keeps you trying to figure out who the killer is and hoping the wedding actually happens.

A great ending to this family.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 of the A Travelling Celebrant Mystery series. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.

'When a wine-country wedding becomes a murder investigation, can Daphne clear an innocent woman’s name before the killer strikes again?'

The characters drove the storyline and they were very appealing and likeable and quirky and mysterious. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Daphne is set to officiate a wedding at a winery and her and John get the surprise of their lives when they find out who the bride is. Unfortunately, not all is well at the winery, with a mystery that's been several years in the making culminating in a nurder on the first night that Daphne and John arrive. Daphne pulls out all her sleuthing and puzzling skills to work out what happened. A wonderful cast of characters and a very twisty murder mystery. A great read.
Thanks to Booksprout, Storm Publishing, and Phillipa Nefri Clarke for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daphne arrives at Crystal Springs Winery to officiate a wedding and learns that her long-lost foster daughter is the bride. When a food critic is murdered, Daphne uncovers a plot to sabotage the winery. She must expose the killer before they strike again.

This plot-driven mystery is intriguing and clever. This book is more emotional than the previous books in the series. Even so, I was a bit disappointed that the reunion with Daphne’s foster daughter didn’t play a larger role in the story.

Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! love this series !! the travelling celebrant... love Daphne and John... this is another murder for them to solve... a fun fast paced mystery... this was to be a simple wedding at a winery... Daphne finds Belle , the foster daughter that she adored and lost touch with as the bride.. and a food critic stabbed to death pointing to the chef Susan... as Daphne starts digging she finds more disturbing incidents... this is so good !!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Travelling Celebrant Mystery series and I have grown to really look forward to the next book in the series. In this book wedding celebrant Daphne is called to wine country to a wedding. Daphne gets the shock of her life when the bride turns out to be her long lost foster daughter. When a food critic is found murdered though Daphne finds herself knee deep in another murder with possible sinister outcomes.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

John and Daph are off to a wedding only to discover that the bride is one of the estranged foster child Belle. Except, there is a murder and people are getting hurt and the corrupt policeman resorts to bullying.

This was a great cosy mystery and the author takes delight in writing both her good and bad characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't believe I read this series back to back because I normally don't do that but this one I did , and over all I enjoyed it , it was a fun read , had me smiling and at times laughing, and I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good cozy

Daphne is a celebrant, and she and John arrive at a winery. The groom has arranged a surprise for his fiancé as she had been a foster child of John and Daphne. A murder at the restaurant has Daphne scrambling to put the pieces together. I especially enjoy reading about Australia in this series.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wedding is happening at a vineyard. Suddenly there is a death. What is going on? Who killed the man?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard Angrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sixth book by this author I have read and the best so far. After a break we return to the travelling life of Daphne, John and Bluebell. Quite a heart wrenching story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Phillipa has a lovely writing style that for this reader is relaxing and easy to read. Recommended. Thanks to Storm Publishing and Booksprout for the chance to ARC this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.